The discussion group on 21st October 2024, focused on a range of important topics, including council tax collection, welfare assistance, and issues with community interest companies (CICs) managing supported accommodation. Below is a summary of key points and contributions:
- Tom Clark provided detailed insights into his role as the Head of Income Collection and Welfare Assistance at the London Borough of Enfield. He discussed the challenges faced due to Enfield’s harsh council tax support system, which includes a 50% cap for working-age customers. He also highlighted significant issues with the management of supported exempt accommodation, citing a £7.2 million loss in subsidies last year. Tom explained how inflated costs from CICs have exacerbated the problem and outlined measures taken, such as inspections, forensic accounting, and suspending payments to some CICs.
- Jayne Brown (Civica) shared similar experiences of inflated rents from CICs in other areas, asking Tom about how Enfield identified the financial transfers between companies. Tom responded that forensic accounting and requesting bank details from providers were crucial in revealing the financial discrepancies.
- Gareth Morgan raised concerns about Enfield’s council tax reduction system, questioning the impact on vulnerable residents. Tom acknowledged the challenge but noted that welfare support remained a priority, and creative use of household support funds helped mitigate some of the financial pressure.
- Sean O’Sullivan brought attention to the broader implications for adult social care, querying whether tighter controls on supported accommodation would increase pressure on residential care services. Tom explained that the impact had been minimal in Enfield due to effective use of housing funds to rehome tenants where necessary.
- Chris Henry and Kim Larkin joined the discussion around the financial challenges posed by supported accommodation, with Kim clarifying complex legal and operational distinctions in how housing benefit and care supervision are managed.
- Paul Howarth reflected on the difficulty of solving these issues, noting the involvement of multiple government departments and the influence of strong lobbying groups representing social landlords. He expressed scepticism about the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) taking on more responsibility in this area.
- Laura Bessell described similar pressures in Oxford, mentioning a £1.8 million loss in subsidy and the challenge of managing demand from other local authorities placing residents in the city. Laura also highlighted the difficulty of balancing losses between supported accommodation and temporary accommodation.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the need for continued scrutiny of CICs and supported accommodation providers, as well as collaboration between councils to manage the growing financial and operational pressures.
During the meeting, it was noted that Kim Larkin’s expertise in the area of supported accommodation law and practice is invaluable. Her training courses and resources offered through HB Directories are highly recommended for anyone dealing with the complexities of exempt and managed accommodation. Attendees stressed the importance of accessing specialised training, particularly given the technical and legal intricacies involved in managing claims, forensic accounting, and ensuring compliance with care and support standards.
Kim’s sessions not only cover the fundamentals but also offer in-depth, practical guidance on navigating the challenges faced by local authorities. Regular access to her courses and HB Directories’ subscriber content can significantly enhance the understanding and management of supported accommodation, making it an essential resource for professionals in this field.
Kim can be contacted at kim.larkin@ladirectories.com (https://ladirectories.com/)
The recording can be found at https://bit.ly/VNR241014.
Files and reports to be downloaded: